Bishop Rob Hirschfeld of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire is warning his clergy to finalize their wills and get their affairs in order to prepare for a “new era of martyrdom.”
He said:
“I have told the clergy of the Episcopal diocese of New Hampshire that we may be entering into that same witness. And I’ve asked them to get their affairs in order, to make sure they have their wills written, because it may be that now is no longer the time for statements, but for us with our bodies, to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable.”
Hirschfeld did not call for violence, but instead said people of Christian faith should not fear death.
“Those of us who are ready to build a new world, we also have to be prepared. If we truly want to live without fear, we cannot fear even death itself, my friends.”
Rev. Sean W. Rowe, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, echoed that call.
“We keep resisting, advocating, bearing witness and repairing the breach. We keep sheltering and caring for those among us who are immigrants and refugees because they are beloved by God, and without them, we cannot fully be the church.”
As followers of Jesus, we are not to meet “hatred with hatred” but instead to love in a world that is obviously not fine.
Notice, and this is important, these leaders are calling for the church, believers, Christians, followers of Jesus, to stand up for those who are voiceless (or who have silenced voices) in our world. It is not about protecting my rights, it is about justice and love and mercy and caring for those who are seen as "the least of these."
Let me echo the call... "Get your affairs in order."
Comments